Lamentation for Tyre

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Ezekiel 27:1-36

 

Ezekiel 27:3

and say to Tyre, ‘You who ^[a]are situated at the entrance of the sea, merchant of the peoples on many coastlands, thus says the Lord God:

“O Tyre, you have said,
‘I am perfect in beauty.’

(NKJV)

 

We could label the recently completed Olympics in Paris as the woke Olympics and why many, like me, chose not to watch. However, what remains a constant in global sporting events like the Olympics is the demonstration of nationalistic pride as each nation pits its best athletes against those of other nations, hoping their athletes will prevail. However, when nationalistic pride becomes something nations depend on for continued prominence, these nations fall prey to the words of Proverbs 16:18, setting themselves up for a fall. Such was the fate of Tyre in Ezekiel 27:1-36, providing a warning to any nation, state, city, organization, or individual caught up in pride.

 

The Lord gives Ezekiel another word, instructing him to take up a lamentation for Tyre (Ezekiel 27:1-2). The word begins with the Lord telling Tyre they are prideful having said they are perfect in beauty (Ezekiel 27:3). The lamentation remembers the greatness of Tyre a city whose builders perfected the city’s beauty using the finest materials and craftsmanship (Ezekiel 27:4-9). Not only this but their army consisted of men of war from Persia, Lydia, and Libya with men of Arvad guarding the city walls and men of Gammad in their towers as watchmen (Ezekiel 27:10-11). The merchants of Tyre both bought and sold merchandise from many nations and peoples with the ships of Tarshish transporting the merchandise (Ezekiel 27:12-25).  

 

However, despite this greatness, the east wind broke Tyre in the midst of the seas (Ezekiel 27:26). The riches, wares, and merchandise of Tyre also fell in the midst of the sea on the day of the ruin of the city of Tyre (Ezekiel 27:27). The common-land or pasture lands shook at the sound of the city of Tyre’s pilots with those at sea handling the oar, the pilots, and mariners leaving their ships to stand on the shore (Ezekiel 27:28-29). Those affected by the fall of Tyre took up a lamentation at the fall of Tyre, a once great city destroyed in the midst of the sea (Ezekiel 27:30-32).

 

The commerce and merchandising of Tyre satisfied many people and enriched kings but was now broken down by the sea destroying it all (Ezekiel 27:33-34). The inhabitants of the isles were astonished at what had occurred leaving kings greatly afraid, leaving them with troubled countenances (Ezekiel 27:35). All the merchants could do was hiss at what used to be Tyre with it becoming a horror and existing no more (Ezekiel 27:36).

 

After the proclamation against Tyre (Ezekiel 26:1-27), Ezekiel receives a word of lament for Tyre, bringing to remembrance the once great stature of Tyre that had now fallen into the sea. Ezekiel 27:3 tells why the city of Tyre fell, due to their pride, believing they were perfect in beauty. Ezekiel 27:4-24 provides details of the great stature of Tyre and how they came to the prideful belief in their perfection in beauty. However, even this great stature would not prevent the east wind from breaking Tyre in the midst of the seas (Ezekiel 27:26). Those once trading with Tyre now take up a lament for them with the merchants hissing at them for Tyre is a horror, ceasing to exist (Ezekiel 27:32, 36). Pride precedes a fall with the city of Tyre providing a historical example to warn us not to become prideful (Proverbs 16:18).

 

History is full of great nations, cities, and states that once held great prominence, only to fall due to pride in their accomplishments. In Daniel 2:24-45, Daniel interprets a dream of Nebuchadnezzar. The dream illustrates the emergence of three earthly kingdoms, the Babylonians, Persians, and Romans to prominence, only for them to later fall. This vision plus what occurred to Tyre should stand as a Godly warning to any nation, state, or city gaining prominence and beginning to depend on this prominence instead of the God that brought the nation to prominence.

 

As I write this my heart is heavy as I observe the prideful arrogance of many in my own country, the United States. The United States has achieved a high global stature due to hard work and its foundation of Godly principles. As I observe the nation sliding from these principles of hard work and godliness, I see a nation becoming prideful in its accomplishments, setting itself up to fall like the Babylonians, Persians, Romans, and Tyre. Please continue to pray for the United States, praying that the nation and the Church will return to Godliness, bringing about revival.

 

If you are reading this and have not prayed for the forgiveness of your sins making Jesus the Lord of your life, or have drifted away from your relationship with Christ, I invite you to pray with me now,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.